Travers Smith LLP has announced today the promotion of eight lawyers to its partnership, with effect from 1 July 2018. The new partners and their principal areas of practice are:
James Longster – Technology & Commercial Transactions
James specialises in technology, IP and data protection. Throughout his career he has advised clients in the technology, retail, leisure and financial services sectors. His recent work highlights include advising: Micro Focus on the tech, IP and data aspects of its US$8.8 billion merger with Hewlett Packard Enterprise's software business; Pret A Manger on a business critical cloud outsourcing; and a Bridgepoint investee company on the acquisition of the master franchise rights to the Burger King brand in the UK.
Mohammed Senouci – Corporate Finance
Mohammed is a corporate finance lawyer focusing on public and private mergers and acquisitions who also has experience in advising clients on general corporate matters such as joint ventures and corporate reorganisations. He acts for a wide range of clients including corporates, financial institutions and infrastructure funds and his recent experience includes advising Micro Focus on its US$8.8 billion acquisition of Hewlett Packard Enterprise's software business and advising Northleaf Capital on its investment in Navigator Terminals. During his time at the firm Mohammed has also spent time on secondment to a global financial institution.
Stephanie Lee – Dispute Resolution
Stephanie is a commercial litigator, acting for domestic and international clients across a broad range of contentious matters, often involving complex claims of high-value. She has particular expertise in the financial services sector – both in litigation and contentious regulatory investigations – and in matters involving allegations of fraud. She also has experience of insolvency, environmental, intellectual property and defamation disputes and her cases frequently have a multi-jurisdictional element to them. Stephanie is currently acting for Hewlett-Packard group companies in relation to accounting fraud claims arising out of the $11 billion acquisition of Autonomy Corporation plc in 2011.
Adam Wyman – Employment
Adam is an employment lawyer advising UK and overseas employers on employment and business immigration issues. Whilst he operates across a wide range of sectors Adam has particular experience in the financial services and technology sectors. Adam’s experience includes advising on the employment aspects of corporate and commercial transactions and change programmes, including TUPE and redundancy exercises, as well as advising employers on disputes with current and former employees including senior executive issues and whistleblowing, investigations, and litigation in the Employment Tribunal and High Court. Adam’s recent work includes advising on TUPE and redundancy in connection with the sale in multiple parts of a financial services business; carrying out an investigation following a whistleblowing complaint at a major PLC; and successfully defending a multi-million pound discrimination claim in the Employment Tribunal. He has also recently advised a number of blue chip clients on gender pay issues including carrying out equal pay audits and presenting to boards on reducing the gender pay gap.
Ian Keefe – Private Equity
Ian is an M&A lawyer specialising in private equity and regularly advises institutional investors, portfolio companies and management teams on both buy-outs and general M&A. Recent transactions include advising Element Materials Technology on its public to private acquisition of Exova, Bridgepoint on its acquisition of the UK master franchise for BURGER KING®, Wiggle on its merger with CRC and the shareholders of Offsite Archive Storage and Integrated Services on its sale to Montagu.
Genevieve Marten – Private Equity
Genevieve is a corporate lawyer specialising in UK and international private equity related M&A transactions, acting primarily for institutional investors, management teams and portfolio companies. Throughout her career Genevieve has advised many of the firm's key clients and has a broad range of experience on transactional and advisory work for corporate clients. Recent roles have included advising Bridgepoint on the management buy-out of Estera, Bridgepoint on the sale of Oasis Dental to BUPA, 3i on the sale of its stake in Anglian Water and TA Associates and management on their strategic reinvestment in The Access Group alongside new investor Hg.
George Weavil – Private Equity
George is a corporate and M&A lawyer with a particular focus on private equity. He has a broad practice which includes acting for both institutional investors on M&A transactions and investee companies on equity reorganisations and other general corporate advisory work. George has advised a number of the firm's key clients, including Bridgepoint Development Capital, Carlyle Europe Technology Partners and Intermediate Capital Group. Representative transactions include the acquisition by TA Associates of the single strategy asset management business of Old Mutual Wealth, the investment by CBPE Capital LLP in Xceptor and the disposal by Bridgepoint Development Capital of Beck & Pollitzer.
Madeline Gowlett – Tax
Madeline specialises in advising large corporates on tax structuring, M&A and ongoing tax advisory work. She also has experience in advising asset managers, real estate investment trusts, private equity houses, and pension schemes. Recent highlights on the M&A side include advising Shazam in relation to its proposed takeover by Apple; Microfocus on the reverse merger with HP; and ZPG on its acquisition of Money.co.uk. On the advisory side Madeline has recently advised on the UK's anti-hybrid rules, the tax treatment of derivative transactions and the new corporate criminal offence for the failure to prevent the facilitation of tax evasion.
Travers Smith's Managing Partner David Patient commented:
"I am delighted to welcome this group of exceptionally talented and able lawyers to Travers Smith's partnership. The promotions recognise the contribution our new partners have already made to their respective practice areas and the significant role they will play in the success of our firm going forward.”
Senior Partner Chris Hale added:
“I am very pleased that not only have we elected as partners a near record eight outstanding lawyers, but that exceptionally gifted female lawyers continue to be well represented amongst them. The promotions demonstrate our commitment to long-term growth and continued investment in supporting our clients’ needs across a broad range of practice areas. I look forward to working with them all."